His name is Henry.I found Henry this week while driving home one day. Someone had thrown this poor dear in the ditch. I was squealing into my cellphone to my sister that I had to go. (I'm sure she thought that I had hit a truck or something .)I brought Henry home and sat him on my very small porch at my back door. That's when I realized how uninviting my back door was and that something neede to be done. Henry is a bench of substance. Solid wood. Look at those rusted nails and chippy paint.

Henry has weathered many storms..and probably a few hurricanes as well.

When I rescued Henry, I found this poor thing as well. Can you guess what it is?

What if I pull the covers back for a peek?

It's a wooden tool box!!!!

I know...I know......

For such a small town, it has a treasure for great junk. (No, I will not tell you where I live.)It has compartments and is a really good size.!!! (Spazzy dance time!!!)

I decided to make my back door more "me."

The first thing I did was make this wreath that I had been putting off for the longest. I got the square styrofoam wreath from Michael's. It was being discontinued so I got it for 75 cents. I got the greenery from Hob Lob at 50% off.

(Is it me or does anyone else have to walk through that store humming "Yield Not To Temptation"?)

I hung it with some gorgeous red toile fabric. I know that toile is passe these days, but I'm french. I can't help it.

Here is my new back door!!!

I painted Henry with Rustoleum Colonial Red. I am giving MAAAAD props to this stuff!!! I thought all the hype about Rustoleum was just that..hype. Oh noooooooo!!!! This is the real deal!!!! I will NEVER go back to the other improvement stores brand of paint again.

(I'm not calling any names, but you know who you are and you know that you sell crappy spray paint.)

I painted the tool box in Rustoleum Heirloom White. Ladies!!!!! Ya'll were soooooo right about this color!!! It is my second BFF. I found it in abundance!!!!!

(You still cannot know where I live...giggle.)

I made the topiary out of an exsisting topiary that I bought at the Salvation Army. Just imagine a very 90's thingy with magnolias all over it....yeah...I know.

I simply removed all of the hideous...and I mean heeedeeeeeooos...flowers and replaced it with greenery that I bought at Hob Lob. I placed it in the terra cotta pot that I found on another curb cruising excursion and voila!

I love typography so much that I couldn't resist putting it by my back door.

I know that I've seen many doors painted with their house numbers on them but I didn' want to commit to performing plastic surgery on my back door under the influence of several Nyquil and Theraflu. That would simply be unethical. So, I tried it on my tool box. I lurve it!!!! I simply added some faux hydrangeas from Hob Lob and there you have it.

I'm very happy with my new back door decor. I definitely think that it gives such a feel for me and my house as well as it brightens up my day when I come home.

I hope that if you get a chance to come by, you'll stop and speak to Henry and feel instantly at home.

"But this I say, He who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully"

2 Corinthians 9:6 (KJV)

When I discovered the dresser drawer for Shuga's new bed, My husband discovered something else. Mr. M. discovered a golden class ring that was left in the drawer. We knew that the people were moving and we went back to the house, but sadly no one was there. After several attempts of going by the home, we still had not returned the ring. Mr. M thought that we could then sell the ring since the owners had moved, but I told him that was not sufficient for me. I knew that this man had kept this ring for a reason as it was important to him and I wanted to give every effort to return him the ring.

Saturday, my husband drove to the store (as I am still sick as a dog) and came home excited. The owners of the house were having a garage sale. He stopped and talked to the owner of the house and asked him if he still owned his class ring. The man said he did still have his class ring and described it perfectly. I got dressed and went down the street with the ring. The man and his family were so thrilled that I had found and returned the ring. The ring apparently fell out of a small box that he stored it in and he had no idea that it was even missing.

The owner of the ring was so grateful that he told us to take whatever we wanted. We kindly declined the offer as we expected nothing in return, but the owner said , "It's eleven o'clock and I'm fixing to give this stuff to Goodwill. Please take it." We started talking and as soon as he discovered that we had children , came out with a bicycle in very good condition for the girls and a very nice basketball goal for the boys. He asked me why I wanted just that dresser drawer and I told him about this blog. He then gave me a large mirror, a christmas tree and a large matted print. He told me I couldn't refuse. I didn't. Our families stood and talked for some time and then parted ways.

I believe in doing the right thing. I believe in sowing good seeds. It's not about the accolades from men of prestigeor for reward or show. If the owner of the ring had given me nothing more than a "Thank You," I would have been more than satisfied. Knowing that I did what my heavenly father would have wanted me to do is more than enough for me.

About Me

I'm a 30something woman who just married the love of my life. Together, we have four great children and three crazy dogs. This is my journey through marriage and motherhood. I believe that life is beautiful and my surroundings should be too. I love to decorate and beautify my world with what I have. Isn't that all life is about anyway..making do with what you got?